A Glimmer of Hope for Missouri Auto Industry

Nationally the news ain't good for the beleaguered U.S. auto industry. Just yesterday, in fact, the White House forced the resignation of General Motors' chairman Rick Wagoner and told Chrysler to seek a partnership with Italian car maker Fiat if it wanted any more government assistance.

Closer to home, though, there was a bit of good news last week. In Kansas City on Friday, Smith Electric Vehicles announced it planned to begin producing electric trucks this summer in a maintenance hangar within the Kansas City International Airport.

Smith already produces a similar vehicle that's been in use in Europe for the past three years. The Missouri plant is expected to employ at least 120 people with Pepsi Co., Frito-Lay and Coca-Cola named as some of the possible buyers of the delivery trucks that can hit speeds of 50 miles per hour.